Stolen Monet found in Poland after 10 years

[February 04, 2010]  WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- Polish police say they have found a painting by French impressionist Claude Monet that was stolen from a museum in western Poland in 2000.

Poznan police spokesman Romuald Piecuch said Wednesday that officers detained a 41-year-old man in the southern city of Olkusz after the painting, "Beach in Pourville," was found in his possession.

Piecuch says the suspect and the painting were being transported to Poznan.

The picture was stolen in September 2000 from the National Museum in Poznan. It was valued at $1 million at the time.

The thief cut the painting from its frame and replaced it with a copy painted on cardboard.

[Associated Press]

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